Two Hunts In Congo

Published: July - 1998

Two clients returning from safaris to Brazzaville Congo with Eric Stockenstroom's Congo Safaris are far from pleased. Subscriber Richard Spurzem's major complaint is an apparent lack of game due to heavy poaching. His PH was Fred Duckworth of Fred Duckworth Safaris International, who has filed a rebuttal statement about game populations that is must reading along with Spurzem's report. Subscriber Frank Carlisi is even more upset than Spurzem, because he arrived in Congo only to learn that bongo - the major animal he was seeking - had been closed to hunting. He alleges that Stockenstroom knew about the closure in time to cancel his safari but failed to do so. We cannot confirm whether that is true or not, nor could PH Fred Duckworth. We will follow up on this allegation when Stockenstroom is out of the bush and more easily accessible. In the meantime, bongo does indeed appear to be closed in this country and anyone eyeing a safari to Congo in search of one should take this news under advisement.